Sample case



2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1927.

Dec. 27, 1927.

H. H. LABADIE ET AL SAMPLE CASE Filed June 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheei. 2

A/arr and x 4 Patented Dec. 27, 1927. V

UNITED ST'ATES PATENT OFFICE.

I-IARRY H. LABADIE AI\TD IBTJ'IRTON B. BEERS, OIF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;SAIID BEERS AS-' SIGNOR 21:0 KNIGKERBOCKER CASE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA5 TION DIE ILLINOIS.

SAMILE OASE.

Applieationfiled Inne 14, 1926. Serial N0. 115,836.

This invention relates to improvements in smnple cases, 01 similar display cases, and more particularly t0 an improved f0rm .0f tray construction f0r use in such a case, whereby the sample will be more attmetively displayed, more conlpletely visible, easily accessible,- ancTstill fully protected agairist diit und handling.

One object of the invention is tdprovide an improved tray for sample cases, the smy being open at the top and one side, so that the full height 0f the sample is completely cover for the open side ancltop 0f the tray.

Another object is to p1ovide means along the open side of the tray f0r holding the c1osure, 01 the samp1es, in place within the tray.

Another object is t0 provide improved means for' holding ehe samples in fixed display psitions within 1ihe tray.

Oher objects und advzmcages of this in vention Will be more apparent from the f01 lowing detailed description of one approved form 0'f san1ple case involving the principles of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a pla n view 0f one of thettys Wlth the closure 1n pla.ce therein. Flg. 4 1s a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4: of Fig'. 3.-

Fig.- is a detail vertiaal seetion 011 an enlarged scale, taken substancially 011 the 1ine 55 0f Fig. 3.

The outer portion o1 Ehe sample case, in the f01m here shown by way of example, is of a, well-know'n type, built up 0f suitably reinforced leather, 01 other nmterials,- a11d comprises the bottom portion 1 to the sides 0f which are hinged ihe tw0 u1: per halves 2 and 3, Which when in opened position are adapted to be swung out and down t0 the positions shown in Fig. L. VVhen the case is closed, flanges 4 at the edges of member 2 are adapted t0 enclose the edge portions of member 3, and the two niembers are ztdapted 150 be sectu6dtogether by the usual fastenings indicated at 5 and 6. One 013 both of the members 2 and 3 maybe provided with 'lhe tray construction comjgrises 21 large" bottom tmy 8 adapted to fit snugly within the bottom portion l 01' the sample case, and a plurality o1 smaller display trays9 which are flexibly connected With the uppe1 opeh side of the main tr-ay 8. The trays 9 nmy be of various depths, but each-tray is preierably 01 substantially the same length, and substantially:half Ehe width, of.the main tmy 8, so that the trays when in superposed position (as shown m: the leih 0'f Fig. l), Will be stacked in two simila1 adjacent cohunns above the tray 8 an'd Will fit snugly within the closed samp-le ca'se. The trays am preferably made of sheet aluminun, a1 though w00d, tin, 01 other materials may be used for thispurpose. A metal strip -10 is seci1red along ehe: upper edge 0f the end 0f euch tray, and the st1ip 10 on 011e tray is con11ected with the corresponding strip 10- extends from the center of the uppe1 strip 10 to the opposite end of the lower strip 10. The links 11 are pivoted at tl1eir ends to the strips 10 so that a tray may be swung fron1 the position shown a1: the left of Fig. 1, where it is directly superposed upon tl1e next lower tray, to tl1e position shown ab tl1e right of Fig. 1 where it is extencledlatefally in steppedrelati0n tofithe lowertray. When in this lutter position, a narrow edge portion of the upper tlay will rast upon the upper. edge of the ldwer t1ay, so o.s to si1pport the uppe1 tray inthispositioi1i Eah try moves independently of every other tmy, tl1at is, all of the trays may be extended as shown at tl1e right of Fig. l, 01', ior exmnple, only tl1e upper trayoan be extended so as to display tl1e articlesin thefirst two t1ays,

Without disturbing the1enmining trays in that stack.- Obv iously, tl1s stank of trays to the1eft of Fig.1 Will los ext'enclecl toward the left, adirection opposite tothat in which the otherstack oftrays l1ss been exis bent upwardly to form a nzurrow erticallytended. The nu1nber of truys usecl, und the depths of thediflferenttrays 1nay be varied. as desired, this select-ion only being li1nited bv the size 01 tl1e oase in which they are to Bach tray comprises zincl a vertic'al side 15 The t1ay is open a the top anal at t11e side opposite the sicle 1ne1nber 15; At ths openside, tl1e bottom 13 extending strip 16, which i'nnctions as hereinafter noted.

'lhe i1nprovecl olosure o1 cover for the t1ay (as best'shoWn in Figs.2, 3, 4 und 5),

-oonsists of a metal fra1nework 17, prefer ably bentup fro1n thin sheet alu1ninun1 01 similar material, and a transparent cover portion 18 whichis reinforced ancl held in placo by the metaliramework; This transparentoover portion 18 is preferably fo1xned of tl1e 1naterial known as filno celluloid,

which is thii1, flexible, and yory transparent, l

butquite streng tmd durable. This nmte1ial is bentalong the open upper sge oftl1e tray to for1n a continuous und unobstruted catecl a1; 21 and 22, to grip ancl 'SUPPOI1Z the inwarclly folcled sge portions of the traios parentslicet 18, und encl and side fla11ges 234 und 24 a1e folcled ovor at tl1e top onto tho transparent cover. The lower free eclge of "the downwardly extenclingsicle 25 of the trainsparent cover is 6ncloscl in tl1e channelmember 26, preferably formed of the Same 1netal as the remainder of fra1ne 17, the ends of this ch2imnel 26 being bent inwarcllyancl secured between tl1e members 19 andl 2las indicated at 27. It will be notecl that allof tl1e free edges of tl1e transpznrent coyering a13e encl0secl and reinforcecl by tl1e a botto1n 13, encls 14,

nmt erial 18 an l the -ol1aiinel i1ielnber 26.

When the closure is inserted Within tho tray,

tho 1eur Wall 20Willeng2mg against the rear Wall 15 of. thetray, ancl the bowed pur-- tion at tl1e front will be sprang insicl of tl1e 1.1pm11dly extencling strlp 16 along the lower eclgeoi the open side of tl1e tray,so tl;attl1scflosure will be hold yieldably in pace. M1

As indicatod inone of tl1e open traysin Fig. 1, und also in Figs; 3 and 4, the samples 28 may be attached by ribbons29, 01 othmsuitable 1neans, to n pad or carclboard 30 fits loosely within the tra.y und olosure. This pad ser-ves to hold the samples in desired fixec1 positions, regardless of the movemefits impartetl to alle trays, and carrying esse. Holes 31 1nay be provided in the bottorns 13 of the tmys, to i'aeilitate lifting the pas and tho samples carriecl thereby ont of the trays.

lt will l s notedthat When tl1e trays a1re n1oved totho open o1 extended position, tho ontire contents 0f all of the trays Will be exposecl in one substantiully continuous und unbroken view fronr one end of the series o.t trays to tll0lilll 'lhe si les ancl ends 01? tl1 e ssmples, as Well as tho tops, will bo cle2uly visible, and at tl1e sa1ne ti1ne allof Ehe samples aro completely covered und protoctod by thetiansparent olosnres. It is intended t1mt the samplcs exhibited in the poses and not to hancl1ecl, und loose san1ples for handling or consumption may bo carried in thelarger bottoni t1ay 8.

It will be apparent that tl1e improvedtrays n-itl1 the open sicles and tops coulcl be usecl without tl1e transparent closures, und tl1e ad vuntag of freedo1n o1visionwoulcl bo retzainscl, although tho protection ufforded by the closures woulcl bo sacrificed. In such nass, tho pacls 30 which hold tl1e sa1nples woulcl be he'ld in place 21s beforo b v tl1o ulosed sido ancl ends of the tmy, und the coopemting vertical strips 16.

W'ln'le one pailticular f'onn o1. szunple-case, adnpted to liousotwo similunstncksi o1 tmys opsningr in opjoosite directions, is hero shown anal describecl by Way of examplc, it is to be understood tl1at the i1nproved tray construction und transparent closure tl1orefor could 11U sevoml tmys 9 31e 1ne1'ely for exhibition .pur-

be .mounted in-other types of bags or oases and arranged difierently than here shown. For example, a single stackof trays might be used, or one or more independent tacks could be superposied above one another in a manner heretofore wellknown in this art.

1. A sample-oase tray comprising a bottom, ends, and one verti ca1 sic1e, the opposite sic1e and the top of the tray being substantial1y open sind a covering of transparent material for the open side and top.

2. A sample-case tray comprising a bottom, ends, and one vertical side, the opposite sic1e LDC1 the top of the tray being substantia1ly open anc1 a removable covering of transparent material for the open top and side.

3. A sample-case tray comprising a botto1n,- ends, and one vertical side, the opposite sit1e and the top of the tray being substantia1ly open, a narrow strip extending vertical1y from the bottom at the open sic1e, and a closure for the tray comprising a framework adapted to fit wi thin the tray anc1 a continuous covering of transparent 1naterial extending unobstructedly over the open top and side.

- 4. A sarnple-case tray comprising a bot to1n, ends, and one vertical sic1e, the opposite side and the top of the tray being substantially open, a nairoW strip extending vertica11y fr0rn the bottom at the open side, and a removable Cover for the tray comprising a oontinuous transparent covering adapted t0 extencl unobstruotedly over the open top and side of the tray and a metallic framevvork secnred to and reinforcing the free edges of the transparent covering, said framework fitting yieldably between the vertioal side and strip of the tray.

5. A cover for a sarnple-case tray comprising a continuous sheet of transparent 1naterial for1ning the top and one vertioal side o:t the cover, and a metallic framework secnred to the free edges of the transparent sheet, anc1 formingj the ende and other side Wall of the cover.

6. A cover for a sample-case tray, comprising a continnous sheet o:f transparent material forming the top and one vertical sic1e of the cover, and a metallic framework formed of channel members enclosing and gripping the free edge portions of the transparent sheet, anal also forming the ends and other sid e Wall of the cover.

7. A cover for a sarnple-case tray, comprising a continuous sheet of transparent 1naterial forrning the top and one vertica1 side of the cover, und a metallic frametvork comprising a piece of sheet material bent to form the ends anc1 other vertical side of the cover and doublec1 back in channe] formation to enclose and grip the adjacent inturned edges of the transparent sheet, anc1 a narrow metallic channel reinforcing the 1ower edge 8. In oOn1bintxtion, a phnality of trays,

each tray haiving the top and the great6r part of one sic1e open, anc1 connect1ons between the trays whereby they may be stacked in superposed relation or extended latera1ly in stepped re1ati0n so that the open tops and sides for1n one continuous exposure throughont the flight of trays.

9. In combination, a plurality o f trays,

each tray having the top open and one vertical side open except for a narrow vertioally extending strip at this edge of the bottom of the tray, anc1 connections between the trays whereby they 1nay be stacked in superposed relation or extended laterally in stepped relation so that the open tops and sides for1n one substantially continnous ex posnre the strips at theopen sides serving to hold articles in place within the trays.

10. In combination, a plurality oftrays, each tray having the top open and one vertical side open except for a narrow vertica1ly extending strip at this edge of the bottom 0'f the tray, and connections between the trays whereby they may be staeked in superposed relation or extendeo1 laterally in stepped relation so that the open tops and sides for1n one substantially continuous exposnre, and a pad to which samples may be seoured resting on the bottom of eaoh tray and held in place between the strip and the opposite vertical side of the tray.

11. In combination, a plnrality of trays, each trayhaving the top open and one vertioal sic1e open except for a narrow vertically extending strip at this edge of the bottom of the tray, and connections between the trays whereby they may be stacked in superposed relation or extended laterally in stepped relation so that the open tops and sic1es for1n one substantially continous ex posure, and a continuous transparent cover for the open top and-side of eaoh tray.

12. In combination, a plurality 0f trays, each tray having the top open and one vertica1 side open except for a narrovy vertically extending strip at this edge of the bottom of the tray, and connections between the trays whereby they 1nay be stacked in super posed relation or extended laterally in stepped relation so that the open tops and sides for1n one substantially continuous exposnre, a pad to which sa1nples may be secured resting 011 the bottom of ea zh tray and held in p1ace between the strip and the opposite vertical side of the tray, and a c'ontinnous transparent cover for the open top anc1 side of each tray.

13. A sarnplecase tray comprising a bottom, ends, and one vertical side the opposite side anc1 the top of the tray being substantia11y open, a narrow strip extending ver ticzilly fromm the bottm at the open side, and a removable c0ver for the tray comprising a continuous transparent coVefmg adapted to extend unqbstructeclly over the open top and side of the tray und a metallic framework secured to and.reinforcing the free edges of the tran sparent covering said framework inc1uding a channe1 strip secured bo th lower f1ee edge ofthe side portion of the covering, and bowedotwardly 130 yieldably 10 engz 1ge behind the vertical strip at the open sideof thetray. 4

HARRY H. LABADIE. BURTON B. BEEBS. 

